After our time at Hunter Valley, we dropped in at Stuart and Paula's home at Avoca Beach and caught up with them as well as Scott and Anna Marsh. And we got to meet all the children including the gorgeous Stella Marsh and beautiful little Angeline Poll. Of course, Annabella was all grown up now and Noah will be the next Hercules - tall, muscular, strong, but with a sweet face and a fantastic laugh. Though brief it was really lovely and surreal to be meeting up in Australia after spending a few years with them in Singapore.

I took advantage of the fact that Alan is a dentist and working in Sydney to finish up the crown that was oh, so expensive to do it had it been anyone else doing it. He did a nice job and my tooth feels so much better. I just have to return another time to do the other 3 molars now.... Dentists are far more useful than doctors in my opinion...

A dear friend Monique and her family who I had known in Singapore more than 3 years ago, who has since moved to San Francisco was holidaying in Sydney week before the new year. So I got to catch up with her and meet her beautiful daughter Quinn. We looked after Quinn while Monique and Jay attended a wedding and I have never looked after an easier 2 year old. I was beginning to wonder where I was going wrong with my 2 kids! She stayed overnight with us and we took her to Balmoral the next day to meet Monique and Jay for lunch at the Bathers Pavilion which was really lovely.

Not long after that it was New Year and then it was time for us to return back to Singapore. We had such a lovely time in Sydney with family and friends and the weather was really nice and cool too. However, we would be lying if we didn't admit that we were also looking forward to go back to some routine and our home. And Matthew had developed asthma while in Sydney due to the pollen and mould, so we were keen to go home in hope that the symptoms would calm down which they did.

2007 now, I wonder what our almighty God has in store for us!